2016

Being a member of the Profession of Arms. A RCAF Chief Warrant Officer’s perspective
(CWO N. Bélanger)

If you subscribe to the Cold War writings of Samuel Huntington concerning who is and who is not a professional within the Profession of Arms, then this paper is not for you. If, however, you are a believer that non-commissioned members (NCMs) are professionals, then read on.

Fostering an educational culture at the Chief Warrant Officer Osside Profession of Armes Institute
(CWO Kevin West)

This publication aims at initiating a reflection on the positioning of the Chief Warrant Officer Osside Profession of Arms Institute as an institution with an educational vocation for Canadian Armed Forces senior non-commissioned members. Based on the analysis of the needs to enhance the educational pillar of the non-commissioned member professional development with regard to the environment in which the profession of arms will be exercised in the next few years, the author shares his vision as Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer and concludes with the overview of a currently ongoing project.

Le rôle du PM1/Adjuc de nomination supérieure en tant qu’acteur stratégique dans les FAC
(French only)
(CWO Legault)

This paper was written during the Senior Appointment Programme held in May 2014. It was the final assignment of the programme’s distance learning phase and its aim was to discuss strategic issues and theoretical content pertaining to the role and mandate of a Senior Appointment Chief Petty Officer 1st Class/Chief Warrant Officer (SA CPO1/CWO). As such it touches on issues like the command team, change management, government policies and Canadian sovereignty issues in the North from the perspective of a SA CPO1/CWO.

Réflexion sur l’éthique organisationnelle du MDN et des FAC
(French only)
(Mélanie Paquette)

This article discusses Ethics from an organizational perspective with a focus on the Department of National Defense in Canada and on the Canadian Armed Forces. The author discusses the prevalent organizational ethical risks that the DND and the FAC must face and the fact these instutitions are held to a higher standard by the society they represent. The second part of the article focuses on how the manage organizational ethical risks; from analysis of the risks to finding ways to mititage or even eradicate them.

La voie du savoir militaire
(French only)
(Lisa Tanguay, Jean-François Marcoux, Marc Imbeault and Maxim Rondeau)

This paper presents the mission and the main objectives of the Centre for International Studies on the Profession of Arms of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. The idea of founding the center is traced from the creation of the Osside Institute and situated within the context of future development of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Ethics is not just about the little guy and other observations
(Robert Lummack)

This article discusses three points pertaining to military ethics based upon the author’s experience teaching and collaborating with military personnel on the subject. The first point argues that to properly understand the Jus in Bello a simultaneous consideration of the Jus ad Bellum is required. It is a reminder that responsibility for ethical mishaps should not be exclusively focused upon military members within the Jus in Bello. The second point contends that due to the ‘team’ nature of military activities, an understanding of group phenomenon impacting ethical behaviour is critical. The final point discusses the consequences of differential ethical perspectives within multinational coalitions. It suggests that differences need to be acknowledged in order to be better understood and effectively overcome in order to achieve team cohesion and buy-in, critical to mission success.

A new supply ship for the Royal Canadian Navy?
(F Pierre Gingras)

This paper discusses a method that aims at optimizing the use of commercial ships for Royal Canadian Navy operational needs. The author explains how commercial container ships could be used as aircraft or helicopter carriers, or even weapon platforms. The proposed method is also presented as cost-effective and involves the use of trained naval reserve personnel as well as drones. The main example used to support the method presented in this paper is the British Royal Navy’s use of such ships during the Falkland Islands War. The author adapts the British method to the current characteristics of the 21st century operational theatre, namely in terms of technology.

Considérations sur la paix au XXI^e siècle
(French only)
(Paulo Roberto Campos Tarrisse da Fontoura)

This paper discusses the international environment of the 21^st century. It focuses on the main challenges that nations must face in this environment and on the need for increased collaboration. The paper argues that collaboration must go beyond state to state. At the center of this collaboration stands the United Nations, and its Security Council, but also international and regional organizations. The paper argues that a reform of the UN Security Council is essential in order to meet the challenges of the 21^st century. Finally, the paper proposes an increased level of collaboration between state actors in the fields of defense, diplomacy and security.

The Stoics' Inner Fortress and the Health of the Military
(Marc Imbeault)

• The basic principles of Stoic philosophy can, still today, serve as a basis for a new operational stress injury prevention approach.
• These principles allow the human being to face adversity without ever being devastated as clearly shown by the example of the stoics or more recently, by that of Rear-Admiral James Stockdale.
• The mind that is authentically liberated from passions and fear, and reconciled with humanity may, at any moment in time and in all circumstances, withdraw in its inner fortress.

Date modified:

2022-10-20